667 Comments

Kevin forgot a few things. If you make a deal with the Devil, the Devil comes to collect. If you negotiate with terrorists, the terrorists up their demands. And finally, when you show yourself to be untrustworthy and a frequent bad faith actor, people don't trust you and know your word is worthless. And now Kevin McCarthy gets his just desserts. If he was smart, he would quit and make his successor's job even tougher with an even slimmer majority.

Expand full comment

"untrustworthy and a frequent bad faith actor, people don't trust you and know your word is worthless." That describes the entire party.

Expand full comment

I can't disagree, dogant.

But as a practical matter, Dems need to coalesce around someone who could conceivably be a competent Speaker in order to protect the integrity of the institution. Our country can't afford to have a wounded dysfunctional House of Representatives for the next 15 months.

Since Republicans have a majority, they are entitled to the Speakership. But it needs to be someone who's non-MAGA Republican and respected by both sides. There are actually a few who fit the bill.

As many readers here know, I represent a network of ordinary citizens who've been advocating for removing and replacing Kevin McCarthy since January. We're now half-way there!!

Learn more here: www.FeathersOfHope.net or jerryweiss.substack.com

.

Expand full comment

How about Adam Kinzinger? There is no rule that says the speaker has to be currently serving in the House.

Expand full comment

In as much as Adam Kinzinger would be a valuable asset to the speakership, no republican will vote for him. Unfortunately, republicans think that standing up for the United States of America and determining what exactly happened on the day Trump's cult attacked our House is a very bad thing and have turned their collective backs on the true republicans that stood up and said 'No More'!

Expand full comment

Adam Kinzinger would be an excellent choice but if course that would never happen and with the current state of disfunction I seriously doubt he'd take it if offered.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

His problem is he can't corral any MAGA votes, & probably a lot of the other Republicans.

I think many Democrats would vote for him if he were nominated because of all his fine work with the January 6th Committee, but I'm not sure of that since up till now they've been steadfastly united in support of Hakeem Jeffries (who I really hope manages to become Speaker despite Democrats being in the minority, which could happen if enough Republicans abstained from voting, which I suppose could happen if the leading Republican wasn't popular enough).

Expand full comment

I don't believe MAGA would vote for Kinzinger because they do not want the cult members to turn on them.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023Edited
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Well, the majority margin is SO slim, that a Republican "turncoat", with the support of the great majority of the Democratic members of the House, plus those few Republicans with ordinary political principles, COULD elect a Adam K, or better yet (IMHO) Liz Cheney to Speaker. (And I don't think of her as an Angel, but DO respect her principles!

Expand full comment

And Adam Kinzinger has been threatened, along with his family.

Expand full comment

Exactly what I was about to say!

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Comment removed
Oct 4, 2023Edited
Comment removed
Expand full comment

I've been waiting for at least one of the 18 Republicans that represent districts won by Biden in 2020 to step forward.

So far, crickets.

So the demand is ALL the democrats to vote for any candidate who will agree to name a few Democrats as chairs of some of the committees. Who wants to be speaker if only queen (or king) for a day?

Expand full comment

Yes, I thought there was an opportunity for that when McCarthy was struggling through his 15 votes: put up a _moderate_ Republican who's willing to work across party lines (starting by dropping the Hastert Rule), and enough Democrats would vote for that Speaker that Gaetz and company can go pound sand. We could try it again now.

Not only would this get the Speaker's seat filled quickly, but it would be a Speaker explicitly committed to bipartisanship and (dare I say it?) actually getting laws passed, rather than performative partisan posturing. Which we'll desperately need in order to pass twelve budget bills in the next six weeks.

Expand full comment

That probably amounts to no more than wishful thinking,, but we'll see.

We're probably just as likely to end up with someone as disastrous as Jordan, MTG or Gosar. I think they all voted to keep McCarthy, yet they all have strong ties to the extremists, especially Gosar. Can you imagine any of them being Speaker? Ugh!

Expand full comment

Why? The 118th Congress has been dysfunctional from day one. They have passed no useful legislation, most of what they did passed died in the intelligent Senate. The Democrats can still invoke the Constitution to end the stupid "use the debt ceiling to close the Government" without a Speaker and we do have Hakeem Jeffries.

Expand full comment

I'm 100% with you, Fay!

Expand full comment

.....yes, the perfect opportunity to break from Trump, but that's not what motivates the sponsors of this move. Some mysterious forceful faction within the GOP must emerge at this moment with the "magic" to capture a new way of walking for the party--could happen, but not the normal unfold of the GOP. Actually, the same could be said for the Dems; do they have the cajones to fast-track Gavin Christopher Newsom ? Again, similar to the GOP, Newsom could solve so many campaign problems, and for the long-term.

Expand full comment

Newsom? Ugh. Talk about bad faith. A slick, handsome, corporate Democrat.

Expand full comment

That must be why he was reelected by a landslide.

Expand full comment

My extended family lives in CA, as do many friends. They voted for him in that landslide—but not enthusiastically. Their alternative was the Republican.

Expand full comment

Couldn't disagree more. Dems should do

as they did with McCarthy initially--stay out of it and do not vote for Speaker. The only reason to change this tactic would be if a pitential Speaker were to make promises to the Dems to key principles. That won't happen. Ultimately the chaos will make its way back to the voters. They have the power to fix this dysfunction. And that depends on their allegiance to Trump.

Expand full comment

They voted consistently for Jeffries as Speaker, & they should continue to do so, at least until & unless a candidate comes who is moderate & bipartisan enough to work with Democrats, if such a person exists, which I frankly see no sign of among House Republicans.

Expand full comment

I didn’t know that. 🤔

Expand full comment

I didn’t know that Jerry Weiss represents a group of concerned citizens.

Expand full comment

Good luck with your endeavours

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Liz Cheney would be an excellent choice, also helping us to flush our system of trumpism

Expand full comment

Excellent idea

Expand full comment

She would do a good job but is in the same boat as Kinzinger!

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Exactly!

Expand full comment

“Chaos Caucus” would be a good name for the fascist Republicans we’re trying to name.

Expand full comment

My concern is that this is a Brer Rabbit moment. The fox has been convinced to throw Mr. Rabbit back into the briar patch, therefore helping him escape from the fox’s clutches. CNA the lack of a Speaker of the House shut down the system as well?

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

I'm terrified someone will suggest Trump...

Expand full comment

You wrote "some kind of moderate, sane Republican" - what were you thinking?

After my initial exuberance at the thought - since elsewhere I've just heard that DJT's name has been floated - that since the Speaker DOESN'T have to be even a member of Congress, that Liz Cheney would be an excellent choice, as a Republican, I realized that there probably aren't ANY sitting Republican members of the House of Representatives that could bring themselves to vote for her, or Kinzinger. So, only if enough Republican Congress "critters" (as Jim Hightower calls them sometimes) only voted "Present", could the Democrats elect the Speaker, possibly Hakeem Jeffries.

Expand full comment

Most likely it will be someone even more conservative or radical than McCarthy.

But if no one was chosen by then, couldn't Democrats go on & pass an acceptable budget? It might be easier with Republicans so disunited.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Wow. Is that true? Awful. They are a nasty bunch. Patrick McHenry is the interim and he is the guy in a bowtie who may have had some trouble lifting the gavel, but after raising it high brought it down HARD at the end of the session. Looks like he's trying to appear tough and maybe vie for the speakership. If he is evicting Nancy Pelosi, he is like trump who tried for a very long time to evict an elderly property owner in Atlantic City when he was trying to get her out of the way of his (failed) casino.

Patrick McHenry: give me liberty, or just give me a whole lot of power! See me? I'm wearing a bowtie! I'm tough.

Expand full comment

Really? No respect for someone far more respectable than he..

Another name I hadn't heard before today... er, I guess it's now yesterday. Every new Republican I learn about is at least as bad as the ones I already know about.

How did he become assigned as interim Speaker? By vote of the Republican Caucus? So then he may have a leg up on potential competitors.

Expand full comment

True. She’s been in CA—she flew here with Dianne Feinstein’s body and will stay through the lying in state and the funeral. So she’s directed her staff to pack up the office.

McHenry is violating a long-term tradition. Pelops I allowed Denny Hastert to keep his hideaway office when she became Speaker the first time. But McHenry is just petty like that.

Expand full comment

That is what a group of mainly Republicans and Christian right wing educators did to my husband.

Expand full comment

What you say is of course spot on. ...Except those "principles" so far don't seem to apply to The Donald. Just remarkable, what 35% of "us" are willing to be comfortable with/settle for. Just remarkable. Pathetic.

Expand full comment

Adolph Hitler’s portion of the vote in Germany in 1932 that placed him in a position to snatch the chancellorship was 36.8. (c/o HCR’s Democracy Awakening, Foreward, first page). We are at the tipping point, staring into the abyss.

Expand full comment

Times were much tougher for German voters then economically, and the Weimar Republic was short-lived between 2 wars. Germans didn't have the historic tradition we have. All in our favor. Having said that, we are approaching Civil War territory in terms of difficulty governing if Dems don't win 2024 across the board. We also face multiple attacks from foreign agents. Social media is as bad or worse than ever, and AI will be used nefariously.

Voters need to wake up!

Expand full comment

Also note "How Democracies Die" by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (2018), followed by their "Tyranny of the Minority".

Expand full comment

He can thank Trump.

Expand full comment

I would say we can thank Ronny Regean. Bunkerboy, ANOTHER dementia-addled c-list actor, is a DIRECT result of America settling for a dope.

Expand full comment

The judge in the civil case against Trump didn't waste any time responding to his threats. Why

have the judges in the other cases taken so long

to shut him up???

Expand full comment

It's always been pretty clear that Kev isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Expand full comment

Were he smart, he'd be someone else.

Expand full comment

Sadly, no one who should step down for bad, unethical, corrupt behavior, or bad health seems to consider the common good, their primary responsibility as elected leaders to The House and Senate.

Expand full comment

Agreed, It is all starting to fall down. As you wrote, the Devil comes to collect. "No Free Lunch"!!!! Hopefully this miss wakes some people up.

Expand full comment

Sorry, I don't believe it is "falling down" yet. It may get worse before it gets better. What if Jim Jordan becomes Speaker?

Expand full comment

I believe we have to consider that "They" may take us all down with them

January 6th on Steroids!

Expand full comment

Oh, God help us!

Expand full comment

Jordan? Replace an unprincipled toadie with a certifiable lunatic? What a train wreck!

Expand full comment

But that's the Republican Party for you. They go from bad to worse to worst.

Expand full comment

So true!!! McCarthy's word has been worthless!! Flying down to Mar A Lago to kiss the emperor's ring was one of his most embarrassing and shameful exhibitions!!!

Expand full comment

So true!! McCarthy's word has routinely been worthless!! He stands for nothing...except the selfish desire of having the title "Speaker of the House" next to his name. His tenure has been shameful and cowardly!! Laughably, now he's gone there are Republicans wanting to put the very definition of damaged goods D. Trump's name forward for the speakership! Reportedly Trump won't take it if offered. Thank goodness for THAT mercy!! Now if the Republicans can get their act together and find a more suitable presidential candidate...one can only hope!!!...although it's unlikely...what an epic mess!!!

Expand full comment

Well deserved for bowing down to #TraitorTrump after January 6th, for his Benghazi hearings to take down Clinton & for his fake Biden impeachment hearings.

Lying Kevin deserves whatever Karma brings him.

Expand full comment

Karma. Exactly what I was thinking.

Expand full comment

There are plenty more idiots to take his place. Lauren Bobert, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, et al. Will the American people ever grow up?

Expand full comment

I think it would be very entertaining to see Bobo Boebert in the role. Downright comical. The first speaker of the House to ever need 4 attempts to pass her GED!

Expand full comment

🤣🤣🤣

Expand full comment

No, no no! I thought the same thing when Trump first ran for president. Well I suppose it was entertaining at times it was a cluster that has had a horrific impact on our democracy, on the lives of women and our relationship with the rest of the world.

Expand full comment

Just throwing it out on the table, Tim. Thanks for being cautious. I don't blame anyone for being cautious after the last 7 years.

Expand full comment

Chuck Torres, You are being not nice.

Expand full comment

Don't think it couldn't happen! I'd give a slightly higher probability for Jordan, Gosar or MTG, who are practically as bad.

Expand full comment

Yes, it could happen. She would crumble under the pressure. Underneath her pretty face and body, is nothing of substance.

Expand full comment

You need glasses!!

Expand full comment

Funny thing Chuck, that adjective never comes to my mind when I look at her. Maybe if she took off her glasses…I guess a man would think so.

Expand full comment

Good one, Meredith! She's an airhead and a bitch but her looks got her to where she is. I wouldn't take her home to Mom and Dad, but she might do in a pinch.

Expand full comment

Yes, will they ever? They have to get off corporate media. Thanks

Expand full comment

As a journalist, and no fan of corporate media, I must take issue. I think Trumpism taps into something much deeper than self-serving, right-wing media hype. Racism, insecurity, fear. We've seen it before, around the world, the hunger for a dictator to protect white supremacy, to blame problems on "them," others such as immigrants, non-white citizens, liberals, Democrats, people like Robert Reich.

Expand full comment

Obama becoming president scared the hell out of the white supremacists. They lost their minds and Trump capitalized.

Expand full comment

Right . When Obama won hate groups morphed as shown on a Southern Poverty Law map across the country like pus filled red pimples.

Expand full comment

Completely agree! White supremacy is at the core of the identity of the MAGATs and they are incapable of willfully separating from that. To do so would fracture their personalities as to induce drooling insanity. This will not end smoothly nor from changing clowns in the car.

Expand full comment

Exactly. Fear is the chief driving force behind this movement; fear and lust for power by those who are feeding the fear. Over the last 40 years the legs of effective government have been slowly weakened and are now in the process of being knocked out from under us completely. Remember, there are those who would love to see our government small enough to drown in a bathtub. What they fail to add is, said government would be so small that the new rulers of this country could then run roughshod over any and all who would be left behind for them to rule over. I’m not sure what use the Kochs and their ilk would do with the husk that would be left, because this country isn’t the flag, the pledge or anything else physical but this country is a free and diverse people; always has been, always will be.

Expand full comment

That was my exact thought since 2016: The Gop is the party of terrified children awaid of women so they sexually assault them, awaid of children . . . so they sexually assault them, afwaid of non-white humans so they try to get EVERYONE ELSE afwaid of them too, and afwaid of the 99% so they try to kill them. [sic]

Expand full comment

I hate to ❤️ your comment because you’re right. Got to keep that fear factor stoked at all costs. Otherwise the dweebs will figure it all out.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Oct 4, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Agree on that point. And Fox "News" is the worst culprit.

Expand full comment

I think that was the point of the original post you responded to in this thread. A bubble has been crested for these people. They are literally brainwashed.

Expand full comment

We were pretty grown up until we elected Reagan and Wall St took over the country.

Expand full comment

No significant signs of growing up yet revealed for the Rethugs and close to half the Dumbocrats. This wild party is just getting going.

Expand full comment

I hope that they wake up and ditch these people and MTG and James Comer

Expand full comment

Expel them to be precise. It's constitutionally mandatory.

Expand full comment

If Shakespeare was alive think of the play he could have written

Expand full comment

That is the WHOLE issue. Russian philosophers told us a long time ago that America is NOT a democracy. (Actually, under our system of campaign contributions today, it is an oligarchy). Our enemies observed that the American people are so completely absorbed in their own personal pursuits, mainly of wealth or just keeping a roof over their families ...they have no time to participate in the operation of their government. This is the weakness that our enemies hope to leverage to do as they promised ...take down America from the inside. They said the American people will cut down the Stars and Stripes themselves, and on Jan. 6, the Trumpite militia did exactly that. They took down our flag and raised a Trump flag in its place over our Capitol. As an observer for over 30 years (reporter), I don't think that the American people realize that our nation is under attack. "If we don't hang together, we shall surely all hang separately." This is the "common good" that Reich and others stress. There are smart and principled people out there. If they don't step up, and if we don't step up to put aside our personal pursuits long enough to support them ...Hail Atlantis!

Expand full comment

You make a good point, thanks. I do find it interesting that no one has yet mentioned the elephant in the room, the reactionary Christian Biblical interpretations that almost invariably are mentioned as the ultimate justification for all this bad behavior by MAGA followers. "It's in the Bible, so that's ok with me". Meaning mysogyny, slavery, murder, war, tribal loyalty over justice, homophobia and more.

Expand full comment

No tears for a sycophant bit by his own dog. I hope they keep reminding America why they cannot be trusted in government. Best campaign ad ever.

Expand full comment

Benghazi

Benghazi

Benghazi 🤣

Expand full comment

All Republicans in the house should be in jail for supporting Donald. He will join them soon

Expand full comment

At the very least, one of McCarthy's allies should file a privileged motion to expel Matt Gaetz. I think it would pass overwhelmingly.

Expand full comment

Absolutely. A two-for-one week. Historic.

Expand full comment

Agreed. Expel Pervy McForehead and hope that he has an overdue mugshot in his future.

Expand full comment

🤣🤣🤣

Expand full comment

But I'm pretty sure he wants to be the next Speaker. You can tell from photos from yesterday and today. Smug @#$%^. Someday we'll look back at a timetable dating from the campaign of 2015 to the day before the end of the world, and all of us idiots will say, "Gosh, why didn't we do something sooner?"

Expand full comment

Although I think Gaetz has no chance of becoming Speaker for having created so many enemies among his Republican colleagues & having no allies among Democrats, I agree with your sentiment. I think some people who are just as bad like MTG, Gosar & Jordan each have a conceivable chance of becoming next Speaker, & any of them would be disastrous.

Expand full comment

Great idea!!

Expand full comment

They've been talking about it. Another motion that Democrats would be happy to join Republicans proposing it.

Expand full comment

I’ve heard they’re working on it!

Expand full comment

I wish for courage, but not from a single member in that crowd of crap.

Expand full comment

I don't know when the shift happened, from governing and compromise and using the best ideas from both sides of the aisle....to a scorched earth, extremist, brinkmanship, holding congress hostage. Let's start with making Congress great again. Also, technically, Donald Trump could be nominated for Speaker of the House. Send in the clowns, they're already here.

Expand full comment

That’s a horrifying thought!!

Expand full comment